Enhanced biofilm formation and multi-host transmission evolve from divergent genetic backgrounds in Campylobacter jejuni.

Multicellular biofilms are an ancient bacterial adaptation that offers a protective environment for survival in hostile habitats. In microaerophilic organisms such as Campylobacter, biofilms play a key role in transmission to humans as the bacteria are exposed to atmospheric oxygen concentrations when leaving the reservoir host gut. Genetic determinants of biofilm formation differ between species, but little is known about how strains of the same species achieve the biofilm phenotype with different genetic backgrounds. Our approach combines genome-wide association studies with traditional microbiology techniques to investigate the genetic basis of biofilm formation in 102 Campylobacter jejuni isolates. We quantified biofilm formation among the isolates and identified hotspots of genetic variation in homologous sequences that correspond to variation in biofilm phenotypes. Thirteen genes demonstrated a statistically robust association including those involved in adhesion, motility, glycosylation, capsule production and oxidative stress. The genes associated with biofilm formation were different in the host generalist ST-21 and ST-45 clonal complexes, which are frequently isolated from multiple host species and clinical samples. This suggests the evolution of enhanced biofilm from different genetic backgrounds and a possible role in colonization of multiple hosts and transmission to humans.

Complications with remediation strategies involving the biodegradation and detoxification of recalcitrant contaminant aromatic hydrocarbons.

Environmentally persistent aromatic hydrocarbons known as unresolved complex mixtures (UCMs) derived from crude oil can be accumulated by, and elicit toxicological responses in, marine organisms (e.g. mussels, Mytilus edulis). Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography time-of-flight mass-spectrometry (GCxGC-ToF-MS) previously revealed that these UCMs included highly branched alkylated aromatic hydrocarbons. Here, the effects of biodegradation on the toxicity and chemical composition of an aromatic UCM hydrocarbon fraction isolated from Tia Juana Pesado (TJP) crude oil were examined. 48h exposure of mussels to the aromatic hydrocarbon fraction (F2) resulted in tissue concentrations of 900microgg(-1) (dry wt.) and approximately 45% decrease in clearance rate. Over 90% of the hydrocarbon burden corresponded to an UCM. Following a 5day recovery period, GCxGC-ToF-MS analysis of the tissues indicated depuration of most accumulated hydrocarbons and clearance rates returned to those observed in controls. To assess the potential of biodegradation to reduce UCM toxicity, TJP F2 was exposed to bacteria isolated from Whitley Bay, UK, for 46days. Mussels exposed to the undegraded TJP F2 from the abiotic control exhibited a reduction in clearance rate comparable with values for the pure crude oil TJP F2. Clearance rates of mussels exposed to biodegraded TJP F2 were statistically similar to seawater controls, suggesting biodegradation had reduced the TJP F2 toxicity. GCxGC-ToF-MS analysis revealed the same compound groups in the tissue of mussels exposed to pure TJP F2, undegraded TJP F2 and biodegraded TJP F2 samples; however >300 fewer compounds were observed in the biodegraded (954 compounds) compared to the undegraded TJP F2 (1261). The compound distributions were markedly different, possibly accounting for the decrease in toxicity. Extraction and analysis of pelleted bacterial cell material revealed that a significant proportion of the TJP F2 had adsorbed onto the cells. Thus extreme care must be taken in interpreting biodegradation data from recalcitrant UCM hydrocarbons.

The transcriptional programme of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium reveals a key role for tryptophan metabolism in biofilms.

BACKGROUND: Biofilm formation enhances the capacity of pathogenic Salmonella bacteria to survive stresses that are commonly encountered within food processing and during host infection. The persistence of Salmonella within the food chain has become a major health concern, as biofilms can serve as a reservoir for the contamination of food products. While the molecular mechanisms required for the survival of bacteria on surfaces are not fully understood, transcriptional studies of other bacteria have demonstrated that biofilm growth triggers the expression of specific sets of genes, compared with planktonic cells. Until now, most gene expression studies of Salmonella have focused on the effect of infection-relevant stressors on virulence or the comparison of mutant and wild-type bacteria. However little is known about the physiological responses taking place inside a Salmonella biofilm. RESULTS: We have determined the transcriptomic and proteomic profiles of biofilms of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. We discovered that 124 detectable proteins were differentially expressed in the biofilm compared with planktonic cells, and that 10% of the S. Typhimurium genome (433 genes) showed a 2-fold or more change in the biofilm compared with planktonic cells. The genes that were significantly up-regulated implicated certain cellular processes in biofilm development including amino acid metabolism, cell motility, global regulation and tolerance to stress. We found that the most highly down-regulated genes in the biofilm were located on Salmonella Pathogenicity Island 2 (SPI2), and that a functional SPI2 secretion system regulator (ssrA) was required for S. Typhimurium biofilm formation. We identified STM0341 as a gene of unknown function that was needed for biofilm growth. Genes involved in tryptophan (trp) biosynthesis and transport were up-regulated in the biofilm. Deletion of trpE led to decreased bacterial attachment and this biofilm defect was restored by exogenous tryptophan or indole. CONCLUSIONS: Biofilm growth of S. Typhimurium causes distinct changes in gene and protein expression. Our results show that aromatic amino acids make an important contribution to biofilm formation and reveal a link between SPI2 expression and surface-associated growth in S. Typhimurium.

Enrichment and identification of polycyclic aromatic compound-degrading bacteria enriched from sediment samples.

The degradation of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) has been widely studied. Knowledge of the degradation of PACs by microbial populations can be utilized in the remediation of contaminated sites. To isolate and identify PAC-degrading bacteria for potential use in future bioremediation programmes, we established a series of PAC enrichments under the same experimental conditions from a single sediment sample taken from a highly polluted estuarine site. Enrichment cultures were established using the pollutants: anthracene, phenanthrene and dibenzothiophene as a sole carbon source. The shift in microbial community structure on each of these carbon sources was monitored by analysis of a time series of samples from each culture using 16S rRNA polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE). Significantly, our findings demonstrate that shifts in the constituent species within each degradative community are directly attributable to enrichment with different PACs. Subsequently, we characterized the microorganisms comprising the degradative communities within each enrichment using 16S rRNA sequence data. Our findings demonstrate that the ability to degrade PACs is present in five divisions of the Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria. By determining the precise identity of the PAC-degrading bacterial species isolated from a single sediment sample, and by comparing our findings with previously published research, we demonstrate how bacteria with similar PAC degrading capabilities and 16S rRNA signatures are found in similarly polluted environments in geographically very distant locations, e.g., China, Italy, Japan and Hawaii. Such a finding suggests that geographical barriers do not limit the distribution of key PAC-degrading bacteria; this finding is in accordance with the Baas-Becking hypothesis "everything is everywhere; the environment selects" and may have significant consequences for the global distribution of PAC-degrading bacteria and their use in bioremediation.

Improved fluorescent in situ hybridization method for detection of bacteria from activated sludge and river water by using DNA molecular beacons and flow cytometry.

Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) remains a key technique in microbial ecology. Molecular beacons (MBs) are self-reporting probes that have potential advantages over linear probes for FISH. MB-FISH strategies have been described using both DNA-based and peptide nucleic acid (PNA)-based approaches. Although recent reports have suggested that PNA MBs are superior, DNA MBs have some advantages, most notably cost. The data presented here demonstrate that DNA MBs are suitable for at least some FISH applications in complex samples, providing superior discriminatory power compared to that of corresponding linear DNA-FISH probes. The use of DNA MBs for flow cytometric detection of Pseudomonas putida resulted in approximately double the signal-to-noise ratio of standard linear DNA probes when using laboratory-grown cultures and yielded improved discrimination of target cells in spiked environmental samples, without a need for separate washing steps. DNA MBs were also effective for the detection and cell sorting of both spiked and indigenous P. putida from activated sludge and river water samples. The use of DNA MB-FISH presents another increase in sensitivity, allowing the detection of bacteria in environmental samples without the expense of PNA MBs or multilaser flow cytometry.

The influence of genotypic variation on metabolite diversity in populations of two endophytic fungal species.

The relationship between metabolite production and genotypic diversity in two endophytic fungi was investigated. We selected populations of Cylindrocarpon destructans and Heliscus lugdunensis from the roots of a single tree. A total of 49 isolates of both species were selected and classified by simple genotypic tests (random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis and rDNA-ITS sequencing). In a blind test, the ability of these fungi to produce natural products was tested by ethyl acetate extraction of hyphae and culture filtrates, followed by high-performance liquid chromatography analysis (HPLC). A positive relationship was found between genotype classification and the pattern of natural products produced by a given isolate. To test the robustness of this correlation, a discriminate selection procedure was carried out by collecting fungal isolates from a second site and selecting a sub-set of the population, on the basis of genotypic variability. This sub-set of fungal isolates produced greater numbers of unique metabolites than those selected indiscriminately.

A novel approach to investigate biofilm accumulation and bacterial transport in porous matrices.

Knowledge of bacterial transport through, and biofilm growth in, porous media is vitally important in numerous natural and engineered environments. Despite this, porous media systems are generally oversimplified and the local complexity of cell transport, biofilm formation and the effect of biofilm accumulation on flow patterns is lost. In this study, cells of the sulphate-reducing bacterium, Desulfovibrio sp. EX265, accumulated primarily on the leading faces of obstructions and developed into biofilm, which grew to narrow and block pore throats (at a rate of 12 micro m h(-1) in one instance). This pore blocking corresponded to a decrease in permeability from 9.9 to 4.9 Darcy. Biofilm processes were observed in detail and quantitative data were used to describe the rate of biofilm accumulation temporally and spatially. Accumulation in the inlet zone of the micromodel was 10% higher than in the outlet zone and a mean biofilm height of 28.4 micro m was measured in a micromodel with an average pore height of 34.9 microm. Backflow (flow reversal) of fluid was implemented on micromodels blocked with biofilm growth. Although biofilm surface area cover did immediately decrease (approximately 5%), the biofilm quickly re-established and permeability was not significantly affected (9.4 Darcy). These results demonstrate that the glass micromodel used here is an effective tool for in situ analysis and quantification of bacteria in porous media.

Rains, drains and active strains: towards online assessment of wastewater bacterial communities.

Wastewater treatment is one of the largest scale and arguably the most commercially important biotechnological process in the world. Bacterial breakdown of waste materials facilitates the safe disposal of effluents into receiving water bodies. Given this significance, research has focused on identifying the keystone species on which efficient treatment is based. However, unravelling the microbial diversity within such systems has proven difficult. This is highlighted by our lack of detailed knowledge of the microbial interactions within these complex populations, limiting our ability to fully exploit bacterial degradative abilities. Even with the incorporation of new emerging molecular techniques, there have been no investigations linking genetic sequence to microbial function and successful treatment operation. To reach this goal, researchers need the ability to identify, enumerate and monitor the metabolic functions of subpopulations within these complex bacterial communities. Flow cytometry (FCM) combined with fluorescence-based molecular identification techniques provides a method for such studies. Moreover, single-cell sorting provides a unique opportunity to identify and remove individual cells of interest. Laboratory culture of sorted cells is often possible and permits the use of more traditional microbiological techniques to backup molecular investigations. Utilising this approach will advance our understanding of wastewater treatment processes and help maintain and enhance plant operation to improve efficiency.

Filament formation by Salmonella spp. inoculated into liquid food matrices at refrigeration temperatures, and growth patterns when warmed.

In this study, the formation of multicellular filamentous Salmonella cells in response to low temperatures was investigated by using isolates of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis PT4 and S. enterica serovar Typhimurium DT104 as the inocula. The formation of filamentous cells in two liquid food matrices at the recommended maximum temperature for refrigeration (8 degrees C) was monitored and compared with that in tryptone soya broth. Giemsa staining was performed to locate nuclear material within the filaments. Single filaments were warmed on agar at 37 degrees C, and the subsequent rate of septation was quantified. For all strains tested, > 70% of the Salmonella cells inoculated had become filamentous after 4 days in media at 8 degrees C, indicating that filamentation could occur during the shelf life of most refrigerated foods. Strains with impaired RpoS expression were able to form filaments at 8 degrees C, although these filaments tended to be shorter and less numerous. All strains also formed filamentous cells at 8 degrees C in retail milk or chicken meat extract. Filaments often exceeded 100 microm in length and appeared straight-sided under the microscope in media and in foods, and Giemsa staining demonstrated that regularly spaced nucleoids were present. This phenotype indicates that an early block in cell septation is probably responsible for filamentation. When filaments were warmed on agar at 37 degrees C, there was a rapid completion of septation, and for one filament, a >200-fold increase in cell number was observed within 4 h. There are clear public health implications associated with the filamentation of Salmonella in contaminated foods at refrigeration temperatures, especially when the possibility of rapid septation of filamentous cells upon warming is considered.

Simultaneous fluorescent gram staining and activity assessment of activated sludge bacteria.

Wastewater treatment is one of the most important commercial biotechnological processes, and yet the component bacterial populations and their associated metabolic activities are poorly understood. The novel fluorescent dye hexidium iodide allows assessment of Gram status by differential absorption through bacterial cell walls. Differentiation between gram-positive and gram-negative wastewater bacteria was achieved after flow cytometric analysis. This study shows that the relative proportions of gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial cells identified by traditional microscopy and hexidium iodide staining were not significantly different. Dual staining of cells for Gram status and activity proved effective in analyzing mixtures of cultured bacteria and wastewater populations. Levels of highly active organisms at two wastewater treatment plants, both gram positive and gram negative, ranged from 1.5% in activated sludge flocs to 16% in the activated sludge fluid. Gram-positive organisms comprised <5% of the total bacterial numbers but accounted for 19 and 55% of the highly active organisms within flocs at the two plants. Assessment of Gram status and activity within activated sludge samples over a 4-day period showed significant differences over time. This method provides a rapid, quantitative measure of Gram status linked with in situ activity within wastewater systems.